The Useworthiness of Robots for People with Physical Disabilities

This thesis deals with
robotics and the new possibilities it offers people with physical
disabilities. I focus on the user and the use of the technology and, in
particular, on what makes robotic aids worth using - useworthiness as
distinguished from usability.

Experience of the useworthiness of robots was first obtained through
the development of page-turning end-effectors for the RAID
workstation. The principles of separating pages and the page-turning
movements are analyzed and described in this thesis. User experience of
the wheelchair-mounted Manus manipulator shows that robotic arms must
meet technical requirements in terms of acceleration, speed and pattern
of movement.

The thesis demonstrates that user trials with robots as assistive
devices can result in new knowledge about both the use of the technology
itself and the personal characteristics - needs, abilities, wishes and
dreams - of the user.